Examples of More Electric Aircraft Research in the Aerospace Research Centre. Jon Clare

Transcription

1 Examples of More Electric Aircraft Research in the Aerospace Research Centre Jon Clare Professor of Power Electronics Head of Power Electronics, Machines and Control Group Electrical Systems and Optics Research Division

2 Introduction What is a More Electric Aircraft (MEA)? Why is there so much interest in MEA? Examples of the challenges we are addressing at Nottingham?

3 Power Networks Conventional Aircraft Jet Fuel Figures for A330/B777 size Propulsion Thrust ( 40MW) Gearbox driven generators Electrical 200kW High pressure air bleed from engine Pneumatic 1.2MW Gearbox driven hydraulic pump Hydraulic 240kW Fuel pumps and oil pumps on engine Mechanical 100kW Total non-thrust power 1.7MW Equivalent to 5 Nottingham trams!

4 More Electric Aircraft Concept Rationalisation of power networks Jet Fuel Remove Pneumatic, Hydraulic and Mechanical networks Bleedless engine Engine driven generators Propulsion Thrust Expanded electrical network Existing electrical loads ELECTRICAL Cabin pressurisation Air conditioning Icing protection ELECTRICAL Surface actuation Landing gear Braking + Doors ELECTRICAL Fuel pumping Engine Ancillaries New electrical loads Electrical system power 1MW (3 trams!)

5 More Electric Aircraft Some Motivations Removal of hydraulic system Potentially reduced system weight Ease maintenance Bleedless engine Improved efficiency Desirable characteristics of electrical systems Controllability (turn-on-and-offable)» power on demand Re-configurability» maintain functionality during faults Advanced diagnostics and prognostics» more intelligent maintenance OVERALL» increased aircraft availability Reduced operating costs Reduced fuel burn Reduced environmental impact

6 Electrical System Power (kw) Some Challenges and Research Huge increase in the rating of the electrical power system Up to 10 times more electrical power with MEA B787 much more electric A380 slightly more electric Conventional aircraft Aircraft Weight (tons)

7 Some Challenges and Research National electricity system Lots of relatively small loads Huge network Easy to control Individual loads have little influence on the system (usually unless many act at the same time!)

8 Some Challenges and Research More Electric Aircraft Electrical System Relatively small generators 220kW Some important single large loads eg Environmental control (>100kW) Wing anti-ice (>100kW) Single loads can have significant influence on the generator (and the engine driving it) Some research topics for Nottingham How to configure network? How to model network? How to ensure stable operation? How to deal with faults?

9 Some Challenges and Research Generator characteristics do not match load requirements Generator output Frequency wild AC (frequency varies with engine speed) Constant voltage Typical load requires Controlled frequency AC Controlled voltage

10 Some Challenges and Research Power converters needed between generators and loads Generator Power Converter Matches load and generator and allows load to be controlled Uses a technology called Power Electronics Nottingham is good at this! amongst the World leaders Load

11 Some Challenges and Research Power Electronics has been the KEY enabling technology for MEA Advances in power electronics have made it possible to power and control loads electrically that were impossible before BUT the technology is still not good enough to capitalise fully on the potential benefits of MEA MEA advantages are marginal with current technology Advances in Power Conversion technology are essential to achieve the MEA goals and potential

12 Some Challenges and Research Surprisingly we have not yet developed the perfect power conversion system! 100% efficient (no power loss no waste heat) Zero weight and volume Infinite reliability (many loads are flight critical) Zero cost But we are working on it! Multi-disciplinary Team includes Electrical Engineers Mechanical Engineers Thermal Engineers Semiconductor Physicists Materials Scientists Metallurgists Mathematicians

13 Summary More Electric Aircraft concept offers huge potential for future air transport Nottingham has one of the foremost research groups in the World in Aerospace Electrical Systems ( 10M funding) Research spans: Basic technology research (e.g. physics of failure) Applied research (e.g. advanced technology demonstrators) Expertise spans: Device and component technology Complete systems Analysis modelling practical validation We are closely engaged with the key industrials in the European supply chain and with International airframers (Boeing, Airbus, Eurocopter for example)

14 END Thank you